Investor confidence in the U.S. economy has hit its lowest point in 2012, a Rasmussen Reports survey shows.
The Rasmussen Investor Index dropped six points on Saturday to 83.2, the lowest level measured since Dec. 17, 2011, the polling firm reported.
Investor confidence is down five points from a week ago, 11 points from a month ago and 16 points from three months ago.
The Rasmussen Consumer Index, meanwhile, held steady on Saturday at 80.7.
Editor's Note: 'It’s Curtains for the US' — Hear Unapologetic Warning from Prophetic Economist.
Consumer confidence is down a point from a week ago, six points from a month ago and seven points from three months ago.
"Most Americans now believe both the overall economy (54 percent) and their own personal finances (52 percent) are getting worse. Just 25 percent believe the economy is getting better. Another 25 percent say the same about their personal finances," Rasmussen Reports said in a
statement.
"Long-term optimism about the economy has fallen to the lowest level ever measured by Rasmussen Reports. Just 40 percent expect the economy to be stronger in five years. That’s down from 46 percent a year ago, 50 percent two years ago, and 58 percent three years ago."
The housing sector, which helped push the economy into the worst downturn since the Great Depression and lags on its recovery today, will bump along a bottom at best for years to come, the poll indicated.
"Most believe the housing market will take more than three years to recover," Rasmussen Reports added.
Other widely followed indices show Americans are losing faith in their economy, consumers especially.
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment for July fell to 72.3 from 73.2 in June, Reuters reported, which was also the worst performance of 2012.
July's final reading beat out economists' expectations for a 72.0 figure, yet July's number was the lowest since December.
"While consumers do not anticipate an economy-wide recessionary decline, they do not expect a pace of economic growth that could satisfactorily revive job and income prospects," survey director Richard Curtin said, according to Reuters.
"Moreover, consumers have become increasingly convinced that current economic policies are incapable of solving the underlying problems facing the economy."
Editor's Note: 'It’s Curtains for the US' — Hear Unapologetic Warning from Prophetic Economist.
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